A member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing Oyi State Constituency, Hon. Innocent Ojike, has filed a suit against the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Kosisochukwu Ibemesi, challenging the outcome of the party’s primary election for the constituency.

Ojike, through his counsel, Reuben Atabo (SAN), instituted the suit before the Federal High Court in Awka, seeking to be recognised as the authentic winner of the APGA primary election conducted on May 23, 2026.

The case, filed on June 4 and marked FHC/AWK/CS/173/2026, contests the declaration of Ibemesi as the winner of the primary election.

The lawmaker alleged that he secured victory in the exercise but was unlawfully replaced with results that favoured Ibemesi.

According to Ojike, he polled the highest number of lawful votes cast during the primary election and was duly returned at the Oyi Local Government Area collation centre with a total of 3,524 votes.

He further claimed that he was officially declared winner by the recognised returning officer, Dr. Nnewaluem James, and maintained that he remains the lawful candidate of APGA for the Oyi State Constituency seat.

Citing Section 84(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Ojike argued that his declaration at the collation centre remains valid and should be upheld.

In the suit, the legislator is seeking 12 reliefs, including an order nullifying APGA’s declaration of Ibemesi as the winner of the primary election announced on May 25, 2026.

He is also asking the court to compel APGA to submit his name to INEC as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election and direct the electoral commission to accept and publish his name accordingly.

Ojike is equally seeking N100 million in damages against APGA and Ibemesi.

As of the time of filing this report, no hearing date had been fixed by the court.

The legal action comes barely a week after members of APGA from Nteje Ward 4 and Ward 5 staged a protest at the Anambra State Government House over the outcome of the primary election.

The protesters alleged that Ojike, popularly known as “Ojicam,” won the primary but was denied victory in favour of Ibemesi.

During the protest, demonstrators carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “Ojicam is the Authentic Winner in APGA Primary in Oyi,” “Soludo, Restore Ojike’s Victory or Conduct Fresh Primary,” “Our Votes Must Count,” and “We Demand Justice, Not Political Fraud.”

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Dr. Emeka Okafor of Nteje community alleged that results submitted to the collation officer showed Ojike scored 179 votes against the 45 votes recorded by Ibemesi.

Okafor claimed the result was authenticated by the Oyi Local Government collation officer before another result later emerged declaring Ibemesi the winner.

Also addressing the protest, APGA State Treasurer, Chief Uchenna Oraegbunam, alleged that the result eventually declared in favour of Ibemesi contained irregularities and inflated figures.

Oraegbunam specifically questioned figures from Nteje Ward 4, where he claimed 425 votes were recorded despite only 230 voters being accredited.

He warned that allowing the disputed outcome to stand could undermine the credibility and integrity of APGA in Oyi Local Government Area.

Neither APGA nor Ibemesi had publicly responded to the allegations contained in the suit as of the time of filing this report.